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The very cheap acoustics feature high action, meaning the strings are harder for small hands to press down anywhere past the 3rd fret. It's probably the most common thing that makes kids give up guitar, because you get lots of fret buzz, which they believe is their fault, and it's just plain hard work to use.

My tip is buy a cheap electric guitar for their first. Electrics use a much lower action, and kids just think they're cool, which energises them. If you have a little more money, grab a Yamaha Pacifica, or similar, which is a great quality guitar for between 100 and 200 pounds. If you want you kid to learn acoustic, still start with an electric, then advance to an okay acoustic once they have a solid understanding of the instrument and stronger hands.

Tony, guitar teacher, Lincolnshire

Ps. It's not a bad deal, I guess. Sorry for **** on your deal, not voted cold, just a heads up for moms and pops thinking its a good beginner guitar. I reckon it's a great deal if you're after a deal that makes it look like you spent a fair bit of money for some half forgotten nephew or something, and don't really care if they carry on with the instrument. It LOOKS like a nice present, and you get plenty of extras.

Edited by: "Funso" 24th Nov 2016

24th Nov 2016

Thank you to both OP and funso!

24th Nov 2016

yeah appreciate the deal and feeback

24th Nov 2016

Funso

Please don't buy this for your kid hoping they get into guitar.The very … Please don't buy this for your kid hoping they get into guitar.The very cheap acoustics feature high action, meaning the strings are harder for small hands to press down anywhere past the 3rd fret. It's probably the most common thing that makes kids give up guitar, because you get lots of fret buzz, which they believe is their fault, and it's just plain hard work to use.My tip is buy a cheap electric guitar for their first. Electrics use a much lower action, and kids just think they're cool, which energises them. If you have a little more money, grab a Yamaha Pacifica, or similar, which is a great quality guitar for between 100 and 200 pounds. If you want you kid to learn acoustic, still start with an electric, then advance to an okay acoustic once they have a solid understanding of the instrument and stronger hands.Tony, guitar teacher, LincolnshirePs. It's not a bad deal, I guess. Sorry for **** on your deal, not voted cold, just a heads up for moms and pops thinking its a good beginner guitar. I reckon it's a great deal if you're after a deal that makes it look like you spent a fair bit of money for some half forgotten nephew or something, and don't really care if they carry on with the instrument. It LOOKS like a nice present, and you get plenty of extras.

Thanks for the useful advise, what guitar would you recommend for a beginner, I'm looking to buy one now,thanks for any help

24th Nov 2016

Funso

Please don't buy this for your kid hoping they get into guitar.The very … Please don't buy this for your kid hoping they get into guitar.The very cheap acoustics feature high action, meaning the strings are harder for small hands to press down anywhere past the 3rd fret. It's probably the most common thing that makes kids give up guitar, because you get lots of fret buzz, which they believe is their fault, and it's just plain hard work to use.My tip is buy a cheap electric guitar for their first. Electrics use a much lower action, and kids just think they're cool, which energises them. If you have a little more money, grab a Yamaha Pacifica, or similar, which is a great quality guitar for between 100 and 200 pounds. If you want you kid to learn acoustic, still start with an electric, then advance to an okay acoustic once they have a solid understanding of the instrument and stronger hands.Tony, guitar teacher, LincolnshirePs. It's not a bad deal, I guess. Sorry for **** on your deal, not voted cold, just a heads up for moms and pops thinking its a good beginner guitar. I reckon it's a great deal if you're after a deal that makes it look like you spent a fair bit of money for some half forgotten nephew or something, and don't really care if they carry on with the instrument. It LOOKS like a nice present, and you get plenty of extras.

These cheap Chinese instruments are getting much better quality-wise. I bought one of the below for £22 recently with built-in tuner and was quite amazed at build and tone. A little effort needed to lower the action and put decent strings on it but a decent usable guitar.

Avoid this junk like the plague. The action will be so high that it'll chop your kids fingers off and there's no way they'll learn anything with this - and when you go to sell it you won't even get a fiver for it.

If you want to learn the guitar, or are buying a gift for a budding learner then the best thing you can do is buy them a used acoustic guitar. Have a look on gumtree, fleabay, local music stores and cash generator and get them a used guitar from a proper guitar maker. Get a used Yamaha, Freshman, Fender etc, something made by someone who has been making guitars for a long time and grab a guitar in good shape for less than half it originally sold for. This can last you for life and wont fall to bits after a few months.

The laminate on these is thinner than a piece of paper and add nothing to the tone and are made by factories usually making wooden toys. The tuners will fall to bits, the frets will wear quickly and get grooves on them so you get a lot of buzzing and you'll give up. Buy a used real guitar and you can love and play it for many years and still get most of your money back if you sell it further down the road.

I don't agree with getting a learner an electric guitar because it's easier on the fingers because then you'll need an amp and wires and want pedals to make it sound nice whereas you can pick up an acoustic anytime and just play.

1st Dec 2016

Totally agree with joeyjo and funso (up to the electric point). Anyone thinking of getting this in order to encourage a kid (or adult) to take up the guitar should avoid these things. When the guy's above referred to the high 'action' of these cheap instruments they weren't just being all 'guitary' and precious. As an adult who started learning 8 months ago I can say from painful experience that little bitty kids fingers have absolutely no chance of pressing the strings down hard enough to make a clean note with these things. When I bought my first cheap (£99) guitar I told the guy in the shop that anything (cheap) will do, he said when you move up you'll know the difference. How right he was. I now own 2 guitars, both off gumtree, which together didn't cost £99 and are so so much better. My original guitar is pretty to look at and will look fine hanging on the wall. Electrics are much easier on the fingers but as joey said, cables, amps, pedals etc

1st Dec 2016

"Thanks for the useful advise, what guitar would you recommend for a beginner, I'm looking to buy one now,thanks for any help"

Ibanez GRGM21 MIKRO Electric Guitar are excellent starter guitars not cheap around £150 but has a great sound looks great has a low action and will stay in tune

12th Dec 2016

Steer clear! May be made fine with possibly half decent build quality but when you need support,... and you will cos they don't restring or adjust the action themselves,... you'll need to go to a music store to do it and most places will simply help you out for the first time and guide you if you've bought it from them. Try going back to Lidl if you've got a problem or a string breaks. False economy, don't do it.

13th Dec 2016

Has anyone actually bought one of these? I saw it advertised but was a bit confused. The advert says acoustic with nylon strings but the picture was a steel string acoustic guitar. I messaged Lidl to find out but they have been super slow getting back to me. I've read the above comments and having played guitar for a number of years and played on some shockingly awful guitars in that time, I can say that buying a well known good quality brand guitar is always the way to go, Yamaha being a particular favourite.